Friday, August 30, 2013

USA Ultimate, For The Win!

If you have not read about USA Ultimate's recent update to its bylaws, you're probably not alone. Who's got time to read a non-profit's bylaws, anyways? As its operating manual, one can actually determine a lot about the organization's priorities. See below for a condensed version of an important article - especially if you're a USAU member.

Takeaways
Members should be proud of USA Ultimate being forward-thinking. Growth management requires work, and USAU is not only striving for growth, they are planning for it! The multifaceted issues that USAU face are short-, medium-, & long-term goals. Best of all, USA Ultimate has a vision for the present, for the next few years, and for the future.

Summary1) Olympics are on the Radar

Inclusion of Ultimate as an Olympic sport is at least20 years away (2033).

Ultimate is currently played in 56 countries; below the strict requirement that a sport must have national governing bodies with male participants in at least 75 countries on 4 continents, & female participants in at least 40 countries on 3 continents.

Only 28 sports are allowed, so there is currently no room for Ultimate an as Olympic event.

2) Adjusting the Board of Directors Composition

USAU board seeks not just willing volunteers, but leaders "with the right perspectives and expertise to make smart decisions"!

Utilization of constituency-represented committees as liaisons to the board.

Elimination of geographic region representatives; only 4 At-Large positions will be part of the general election.

The total number of board directors (12) stays the same, but the composition of the board will be reconfigured, with dedicated player representation at 25%.